31.08.

1422: Sudden Death of English King who almost Conquered France

Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/Coat of arms of the Kings of England, 1558–1603

Story Highlights

Historical event

31 August 1422

Henry V had managed to conquer almost the whole of France, and even forced the sickly French King Charles VI to name him his successor. Ironically Charles VI died less than two months after Henry, which means the English king had been only a hair’s breadth away from inheriting the French throne.

On this day in 1422 English King Henry V of the Plantagenet-Lancaster dynasty died unexpectedly, at the height of his power.

The king was only 36 years old, and had he lived only a few more months he would have most likely become King of France as well.

Namely, Henry V had managed to conquer almost the whole of France, and even forced the sickly French King Charles VI to name him successor.

Ironically Charles VI died less than two months after Henry, which means the English king had been only a hair’s breadth away from inheriting the French throne.

Henry V was definitely one of the most dramatic personalities of English medieval history. The great William Shakespeare wrote a drama named after him, which became the basis of several movies (in one of them Henry V was played by Laurence Olivier).

King Henry V defeated the French at the famous battle of Agincourt. Even today the battle is occasionally brought up during heated Anglo-French arguments.

The cause of Henry’s death was some form of infectious disease, possibly dysentery. It is interesting to note that Henry died in France at the Château de Vincennes near Paris, on the territory he conquered.

He left behind a 20-years-younger wife, who bore him a posthumous son and heir. The baby boy was crowned King of England, and was then brought to Paris and also crowned King of France.